Approximately 22% Of Females In North America Have Unwanted Facial Hair

Many plastic surgery offices are proud to offer the Galaxy Laser System. This laser combines the power IPL (intense pulsed light) & RF (radiofrequency ablation) as well as a Diode Laser. This allows safe laser hair removal all colors (including white grey red & blonde) — from all skin types including tanned skin. Elos technology (the combination IPL & RF) requires lower overall energy levels for superior results & maximum safety. Most patients this procedure experience no side effects at all though a few exhibit some short-term local reddening the surrounding skin. Laser hair removal treatments a plastic surgery office requires no patient downtime. The number necessary treatments depends hair color & skin type & the part the face or body that is to be treated. Usually four to six treatments are required for substantial hair reduction. Light hair will require a higher number treatments.

Approximately 22% women North America have unwanted facial hair. Other commonly treated areas include armpits arms & legs as well chest & back areas men. The market for hair removal this country exceeds 2 billion dollars annually. Laser hair removal came onto the hair removal scene mid 1990’s pushing aside older techniques such as shaving waxing depilatory creams & electrolysis. The older techniques are fraught with numerous downsides such as pain dermatitis hyper & hypopigmentation & inefficiency. Of note ornithine (Vaniqa) became approved 2000 as the first topical cream for hair reduction. Results with this cream are variable.

The goal laser hair reduction is permanent hair reduction. According to the FDA permanent hair reduction is defined as reduction hair density for a period time equal to one full growth cycle hair. Of note there is no treatment available that provides permanent complete hair removal. This is because no matter how many treatments you receive or how good a job the plastic surgeon provides your body will still want to grow hair.

In order to understand how laser hair removal works is important to understand the anatomy & growth cycle our hair follicles. The hair is composed a bulb a stem an isthmus & an infundibulum the infundibulum being the portion the hair past the skin which we can see. The hair has three growth phases: anagen catagen & telogen. During anagen the bulb produces melanin a dark pigment that is transported up the follicle. This is the “growth phase” the hair. During catagen phase the bulb degenerates & stops producing melanin. Telogen is the resting phase the follicle: the bulb is no longer present. At the end telogen the follicle detaches & then a new anagen phase begins.